Hope 4 Today: Staying Connected To God In A Distracted CultureSample

Against Type

I cast media projects for our production company in Hollywood. I am always looking for new and interesting personalities or types. Typecasting is the term Hollywood uses to describe an actor’s natural look. Directors often cast roles solely because an actor looks like a cop, lawyer, or biker. But sometimes a TV show or movie requires casting against type. For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays an undercover kindergarten teacher in Kindergarten Cop, and Charlize Theron, a captivatingly beautiful woman, played a serial killer in her Academy Award-winning performance in Monster.

Have you ever thought that as Christians, we might turn people away because of how we present ourselves? God’s blessed us all with uniqueness, but we may seem odd to others. Their fear of our type and sometimes even the language we use may create a wall and keep them from seeing the grace of Jesus. There are several Christian motorcycle gangs who at first glance seem abrasive, and I know a tough petite woman ministry worker who is caring for orphans amongst the bombs dropping in the Middle East. God uses all types to further His kingdom purposes, but He may ask us to play against our type so His kingdom can flourish. When we’re authentic, it’s easier for others to see Jesus in us.

How might you be keeping others from seeing God because of your lifestyle and looks? How might you be typecasting others and limiting God’s purposes?